Warren Relay draws thousands in the rain; continues through Saturday

Shannon Buron and Kathleen Freeman, amid several thousand others, sat down to a dinner of steak and salad Friday, sharing small talk and even a few laughs.

Buron, 19, and Freeman, 53, do not know each other. Indeed, the women had never spoken before sitting across from each other at the table. But they share a deep bond: both are cancer survivors walking in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Buron, Freeman and a couple thousand other cancer survivors, supporters and community members gathered on Warren’s Courthouse Square Friday evening. They began the 24-hour walk at 6 p.m. and will continue until 6 p.m. tonight, raising money for research and to help those fighting cancer.

JoAnn Crank, ACS regional vice president, said the Warren relay has been an annual event for 20 years and is the largest in the state. Last year, $348,000 was raised; the target for this year is $330,000.